A couple of weeks ago we had the best visit with our good friends, the M. family. I can’t tell you how much we’ve missed these three! Our time together filled our hearts with so much happiness–it was hard to let them go.

Our first couple of days together were spent in Victoria, BC. It’s such a beautiful spot, where high tea is served everyday (it’s totally my kind of place). After we made sure to get our double decker bus ride in, it was off to Seattle. Thankfully, our “Serra Seattle tours” have expanded past the gum wall (no worries though if you had your heart set on visiting us and seeing the gum wall, it’s still a part of the tour).

We had a blast taking them to some of our favorite local spots and just walking around the city. I couldn’t have picked a better way to end the summer! And, lucky for me, I will be seeing them today! I am heading to Tampa and to top it off, it’s M’s birthday. There will be some birthday hugs given tonight! So, if you happen to leave some love on the blog in the form of a comment (we photographers love comments), be sure to leave some birthday wishes for this beautiful mama!

Happy Birthday, Mo! I can’t wait to see you this evening and give you a hug! xoxo

I hope everyone enjoys the holiday weekend. I will be returning home on Monday. All emails and phone calls will be returned starting on Tuesday the 7th.

Until next time.
xo,
Kristie

The Summer that is… It was just a few months go that I was talking with a good friend about how we were going to fill our summers. We worried about having enough fun things to do, about making sure our kiddos didn’t forget everything they had just learned and about keeping our sanity. Fast forward to today, I’m still sane (for the most part), and the summer has been a blast (minus the last week and a half of fevers and coughs), but it’s almost gone. It seems unreal that ten weeks just flew by like that and that in less than two weeks my boys are off to first grade. They are excited and I am excited for them, but over these next two weeks, I’m going to make sure we do more snuggling, bubble blowing, basketball bouncing, giggling, bed jumping, tickling, sliding, swinging, running, hugging, etc. So, if things are quiet on the blog, you know why.

On a scheduling note, I am currently booking fall and holiday sessions for September and October in Seattle. I’ve scouted out some beautiful locations throughout the city and surrounding areas and I have lots fun and fabulous offerings available, including custom holiday cards. Trust me, your friends will have holiday card envy for sure!

And, in travel related news, I am heading to Tampa Labor Day weekend for my last visit of the year. I’m looking forward to working with so many lovely families. My regular sessions are filled, but I do have a handful of holiday mini sessions still available for the morning of Saturday, September 4th. If you’d like more information or would like to book a session, please email me at kristie@kristieserraphoto.com.

Okay, back to more summer fun. Until next time.

xo,
Kristie

In just about 6 weeks, these two will be welcoming their baby girl into the world. To celebrate we took to the streets of Seattle last night, stopping for balloon hats, pretend roller coaster rides, a cafe setting for two, beautiful light, head-locks and washer/dryer sculptures. Their sweet baby girl is blessed with two of the most kindest, amazing, funny, creative, beautiful, crafty, strong, talented and loving parents. Lucky girl! I can’t wait to meet her!

On a side note, if Tyra Banks was with us last night, I know she would have said, Dee, you are America’s Next Top Maternity Model! And, you would have thought that Eric taught Derek Zoolander the “blue steel” and not the other way around. They know how to work it!

… the time we were 17 and I had lost my keys (for the 100th time) and left my packed bag accidently at my house just before a weekend long high school trip. I said to Ali, “trust me, we’ll just borrow your dad’s ladder and your mom’s minivan and we’ll go over to my house and I’ll climb up to the second story and go in through my bedroom window to get my bag.” Well, surprisingly that all went as planned, but on the ride back to his house, I wasn’t holding the ladder as tightly as I should have and when we came to a quick stop, the ladder went through his mom’s windshield! OUCH!

Why he still goes along with my ideas is beyond me, but I absolutely LOVE him for it! So, this was one of those times I said, “Ali, trust me, it’ll be so great…” and he went with it and this it what happened…

They make me laugh out loud (especially the ninja one)!

Until next time.

xo,
Kristie

Just a few weeks ago I worked with this beautiful family in Colorado. Little C. was sitting up and making the most adorable and hilarious faces. His mommy shared with me last week that he’s now crawling, saying “mama” and pulling himself up! Oh, and he doesn’t seem to be making that hilarious face expression anymore either. Talk about a busy few weeks! I am so glad I was there to capture him before he decided to make all these big changes! I’m always amazed at how quickly things change, especially in my own kiddos. Even a day can make a huge difference. I am so very grateful to have the ability to freeze time with my camera, to hold a moment in time still long after my memory is gone (and, boy, do my memories go quickly these days). So, moms, dads and grandparents, try not to blink too fast and in between those blinks, take lots of pictures because as we both know, things change pretty quickly!

Oh, these three… I adore them! They make me laugh hard and smile big. They are so sweet and oh-so-funny! They loooove their stuffed animals (kiddos after my own heart) and they love to read. And the glasses in the images? Well, they belong to their grandma. She keeps them at their house and uses them to read to the girls, so we thought we’d have a little fun with them–and fun we had!

Working with the girls was a blast. They were such troopers because it was a hike to get to our little spot, but it didn’t seem to phase them one bit. The oldest of the three is especially adored by my boys. They were in the same kindergarten class and we’re hoping that they will remain together in first grade. Fingers crossed! And, as much as my two love spending time with these three, I love spending time with their mom! I’m so thankful that our kiddos brought us together.

I have so many favorites from their session, this might be a little overboard, but it was hard to narrow it down. I hope they put a smile on your face!

xo,
Kristie

Today I am celebrating my dear sweet friend’s birthday. Last year I could cross the street to give her a birthday hug, but this year it would take me a couple of days to get there by car. Lucky for me, I was able to give her lots of pre-birthday hugs during my trip to Colorado.

Last weekend I had the pleasure of photographing Jess’ family. The session was over, but we found this dreamy patch of grass and sunlight and spent an extra five minutes playing with the sun. I choose these images to share because they remind me of Jess, so warm and full of light. This beautiful friend of mine has a heart like no other and a spirit that shines so bright. She’s a wife, a mommy, a daughter, a sister and an amazing friend. I’m always inspired by her, always wishing she was a mom before I was, so I could have learned from her sooner. I adore her and feel so blessed to have her in my life, so. very. blessed!

Happy, Happy Birthday, Jess! I love you to the moon and back! xo

WINNER is Maytee! Congratulations Maytee, I will be emailing you!

If you haven’t heard of Johanna Ely and Good Girls Studio, you are missing out! I am teaming up with my long-time friend for a virtual trunk show. Her jewelry designs are so unique and personal. It’s as if each piece of jewelry could tell a story. I just love that!

During the trunk show, Johanna is offering my clients and friends 30% off of any purchases. Pretty awesome, isn’t it? The trunk show is being held from Wednesday, July 7th to Wednesday, July 21st.

And, because Johanna is so very wonderful she is offering these delicate vintage leaf petal earrings below to one lucky blog reader. Just leave one comment on the blog to enter to win! Want a little extra comment bonus? Visit the Good Girls Studio Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Raleigh-NC/Good-Girls-Studio-Inc/111669870530?ref=ts and become a fan/like them! Then come back to the blog and leave your extra comment. One winner will be announced on Sunday at 8pm PST! Good luck, my friends!!

To do a little shopping, please visit the Good Girls Studio website at http://goodgirlsstudio.com/. Just use coupon code “GoodGirl3” at checkout to receive the 30% discount! Happy shopping!!

For more of Johanna’s amazing designs and a glimpse into her life, you can visit the Good Girls Studio blog at http://goodgirlsstudio.blogspot.com/.

You only live once but if you work it right, once is enough. – Joe E. Lewis

This lovely family is totally working it right! More images to come from this adorable session next week.

xo,
Kristie

Wow, June really came and went in a hurry, didn’t it? What a fun month it was for us… my twins graduated from Kindergarten (*sigh*), we visited Oregon and had our first family camping trip, we saw Toy Story 3 (I totally cried), we explored some trails and fit in lots of picnics.

Before July is here, I wanted to share our favorite iphone images from June…

My favorite: B is for Bear (M and I took this in a stairwell while we were waiting to scare Ali and A. hee hee)

Hubby’s favorite: the beach cruiser

A’s favorite: BOWL! This is the bowling alley from the Goonies where Chunk smears his pizza and milkshake on the window while watching the police chase. We bowled here while visiting Astoria.

M’s favorite: B is for Bear

Quigley’s favorite: the smiling pancake. He had his very own party with the pancake mix tonight!

I hope everyone has amazing holiday weekend! We are off in the morning to explore the Olympic Peninsula. We will be camping near Port Angeles, hiking through the Rainforest, visiting Forks and the other surrounding areas! Looking forward to the adventure!

Happy 4th!
xo,
Kristie